title: Improvement in quality of life after arthroscopic capsular release for contracture of the shoulder.
abstract: There is little published information on the health impact of frozen shoulder. The purpose of this study was to assess the functional and health-related quality of life outcomes following arthroscopic capsular release (ACR) for contracture of the shoulder. Between January 2010 and January 2012 all patients who had failed non-operative treatment including anti-inflammatory medication, physiotherapy and glenohumeral joint injections for contracture of the shoulder and who subsequently underwent an ACR were enrolled in the study. A total of 100 patients were eligible; 68 underwent ACR alone and 32 had ACR with a subacromial decompression (ASD). ACR resulted in a highly significant improvement in the range of movement and functional outcome, as measured by the Oxford shoulder score and EuroQol EQ-5D index. The mean cost of a quality-adjusted life year (QALY) for an ACR and ACR with an ASD was £2563 and £3189, respectively. ACR is thus a cost-effective procedure that can restore relatively normal function and health-related quality of life in most patients with a contracture of the shoulder within six months after surgery; and the beneficial effects are not related to the duration of the presenting symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Reading Shoulder Unit, Swallows Croft, Wensley Road, Coley Park, Reading RG1 6UZ, UK. rupendattani@hotmail.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dattani
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramasamy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002062:Bursitis / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery*; D003286:Contracture / Q000601:surgery*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000601:surgery*; D057913:Joint Capsule Release / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012782:Shoulder / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Adhesive capsulitis; Arthroscopic capsular release; Frozen shoulder; QALY; Quality of life; Shoulder contracture